Japan warns citizens in China to be cautious after assaults

Chinese national flag decorate the front of Japanese restaurants located near the Japanese embassy in Beijing on Sept 14, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

SHANGHAI (AFP) - Japan has issued a safety warning to its citizens in China after six "serious" cases of assault or harassment, a Japanese diplomat said on Friday, amid rising tensions over disputed East China Sea islands.

The Japanese government issued a warning on Thursday and detailed some of the cases reported in Shanghai, home to more than 60,000 Japanese citizens, the diplomat said.

In one case, a group of several Japanese having a late dinner were attacked though no one was seriously injured, the Japanese Consulate in Shanghai said in a statement posted on its website.

The consulate said another case involved a Chinese person throwing a bowl of hot noodles with soup at the face of a Japanese national. Other cases included Japanese nationals being kicked, hit by bottles or having a drink poured on them, it said. In one case, a Chinese man on a bike tried to force a taxi driver from taking a Japanese passenger.